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The Newcastle Falcons have recruited Mateo Carreras from the Argentina Sevens side. As such the English Premiership side will now be the home of two Tucumán players: Matías Orlando and Mateo Carreras. The 21-year-old Carreras’ regular position in the 15-a-side game is on the wing.
Mateo Carreras confirmed the move on Radio Sport FM, 98.3 MHz. He said:
“I will give you the scoop: I am leaving Los Pumas 7’s and I am going to play abroad. I am going to England.”
The move may, in theory, jeopardize his opportunity of playing for Argentina in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. However, Carreras has an arrangement that will free him up for Los Pumas 7’s if selected.
“Upon signing with Newcastle there was a condition that, if Argentina select me, I will be available and they agreed.”
Carreras comes from the northern city of Tucumán. He is a product of Los Tarcos Rugby Club. Also from Tucumán are 2020 Pumas roster members Tomás Albornoz, Domingo Miotti, Ramiro Moyano, Matías Orlando, and Nicolás Sánchez. Mateo Carreras considers Sánchez as the most influential player on his career.
As a player with a bright future, Carreras had signed a long-term contract with Los Jaguares in 2019. The 4-year deal meant he was available at all times for Argentina. It followed his involvement with Los Jaguares XV in South Africa’s Currie Cup First Division. He featured in the unbeaten campaign, including starting in the final.
He trained with both Los Jaguares and Los Ceibos this year. First, he started for Los Jaguares vs the Georgia XV in a warm-up match in January. Second, he was injured playing for the latter in a warm-up match ahead of the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR). The injury saw him miss out on both Super Rugby and SLAR due to the season being suspended early.
Despite being uncapped, Carreras has been a busy player for Argentina. He played for Los Pumitas in the 2018 and 2019 Junior World Championships. He also played for Argentina at the 2018 Rugby Sevens World Cup in San Francisco, California.
This past weekend he played for Argentina in the 2020 Sudamérica Sevens. He was named Player of the Tournament in the Four Nations competition played in Santiago, Chile.
Mateo Carreras’ departure continues the 2020 player exodus. He follows the recent departure of Santiago Carreras to English Premiership rivals Gloucester. Despite sharing the same last name and playing in a common position, the players are not related. Santiago Carreras is from Córdoba; Mateo Carreras is from Tucumán.
